At Niamh Fitzsimons Photography, I believe every child deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and empowered. Inspired by my daughter Grace, who lives with 4q21 microdeletion syndrome, the With Grace Project was born – to shine a light on children living with invisible illnesses and disabilities, and to give their families a moment to capture joy, strength, and individuality through professional photography.
Since launching the project earlier this year, I have been humbled to work with a truly inspiring group of children and families. Each session has been a powerful reminder of resilience, courage, and the joy that can shine through even the most challenging circumstances.
Participants to Date
- Grace – My inspiration and guiding light for this project. Her courage and spirit remind me every day why this work matters.
- Leo – A beautiful boy diagnosed with cleft palate just 24 hours after birth, whose beautiful smile shone throughout our session.
- Indy – Brave, strong and a total firecracker, born with Pierre Robin Sequence, her session was a celebration of individuality, strength, dancing and beautiful dresses.
- Eli – Quietly determined and incredibly sweet, this little man suffers multiple respiratory conditions, global developmental delay, autism, severe sleep obstruction disorder and needs 100% of his feed sthrough G-tube. Despite all this, Eli’s happy spirit totally stole the show.
- Archie – Born with Adams Oliver Syndrome, a condition so rare he may be only the 19th person in Australia diagnosed, Archie has shown nothing but strength at only 2 years old. I don’t think Archie stopped smiling and laughing our entire session – a reminder that
What the Project Offers
The With Grace Project provides free professional photography sessions for children with illness or disability. These sessions are designed to be fun, comfortable, and empowering, giving families a tangible reminder of the beauty and strength within their children.
The project will culminate in a celebratory event, bringing together all participants to celebrate their journeys, share stories, and showcase their portraits. I hope this event will foster community, connection, and understanding for families navigating similar challenges.
Looking Ahead
We are continuing to accept applications for future sessions – click here to apply. If you know a child who would benefit from a session, I encourage you to reach out. Every child deserves to have their story told, their strength celebrated, and their smile captured in a way that lasts forever.
The With Grace Project is more than photography – it’s a movement to celebrate life, courage, and joy, no matter the challenges. I am deeply grateful to all families who have joined me so far and can’t wait to meet the many more incredible children who will become part of this project.
